Device for assisting attachment of heavy and/or bulky article

ABSTRACT

The attachment of, for example, a heavy illuminating appliance to a power source box fixed to a wall or a ceiling of a room or hall can be accomplished easily by a single operator with the help of an attachment assisting device comprising a support member to be fixed to the inside of the power source box and an engaging member to be mounted on the free end portion of a tube carrying a heavy illuminating appliance at the other end and also carrying therethrough an electric cable of this appliance. In the attaching operation, the operator first establishes engagement between the engaging member and the supporting member, so that the connecting of the appliance to the box is greatly facilitated, and the labor and cost are accordingly saved tremendously.

[11] 3,819,141 [45] June 25,1974

1 1 DEVICE FOR ASSISTING ATTACHMENT OF HEAVY AND/OR BULKY ARTICLE [75]Inventor: Shinjiro Mori, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Mori DenkiManufacturing Co.,

Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: Mar. 16,1972

211 Appl. No.: 235,115

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 8/1954 Wolar 248/339 X 6/1967Wolar 248/339 X Primary Examiner--Wil1iam H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack 57] ABSTRACT The attachment of, forexample, a heavy illuminating appliance to a power source box fixed to awall or a ceiling of a room or hall can be accomplished easily by asingle operator with the help of an attachment assisting devicecomprising a support member to be fixed to the inside of the powersource box and an engaging member to be mounted on the free end portionof a tube carrying a heavy illuminating appliance at the other end andalso carrying therethrough an electric cable of this appliance. in theattaching operation, the operator first establishes engagement betweenthe engaging member and the supporting member, so that the connecting ofthe appliance to the box is greatly facilitated, and the labor and costare accordingly saved tremendously.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNZSISH SHEET 1 BF 2 y'll' 'llllllll" DEVICE FOR ASSISTING ATTACHMENT OF HEAVY AND/OR BULKY ARTICLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention is concerned with a coupling means, and moreparticularly it pertains to a device for assisting the attaching orfixing of a bulky and/or heavy article, such as an electric illuminatingappliance, to a vertical or horizontal surface such as a wall orceiling.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Attaching or fixing of a heavy and/or bulky article, such as an electricilluminating appliance, especially an electric illuminating applianceequipped with a lighting fitting for use with an explosive gasatmosphere bulk, has been performed in the past usually by an operatorwith the help of one or more assistant operators because of thedifficulty in handling such a heavy and/or bulky article by a singleperson, causing a great inconvenience and a requiring large expenditureof labor and consequently the attachment operation is costly.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a device for assisting the attaching orfixing, to a wall or a ceiling, of a heavy and/or bulky article such asan electric illuminating appliance equipped with a lighting fitting foruse with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb.

Another object of the present invention is to save the labor and costrequired for the attaching or fixing of a heavy and/or bulky articlesuch as the one mentioned above by the provision of a device of the typedescribed, for assisting the attaching or fixing of the heavy and/orbulky article to a wall or a ceiling, which device comprising asupporting member to be fixed either to a holding member provided on thewall or ceiling or directly to such a surface and a separate engagingmember provided on one end portion of the article to be attached.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe type described which issuspended vertically from a horizontalceiling.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe type described which is suspended from a vertical wall surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic.side elevation of an electric illuminating appliance equipped withlighting fittings for use with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb fixed toa power source box of a horizontal ceiling by the use of the attachmentassisting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagramatic vertical sectional view, on an enlargedscale, of the power source box, a flange and a free end portion of thetube of the said appliance, showing how the appliance is engaging thebox of a horizontal ceiling by the attachment assisting devicerepresenting the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged perspective view, showing asuspension ring attached to the free end portion of the tube of theappliance, said ring serving as a part of the attachment assistingdevice of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation, showing an electricilluminating appliance equipped with lighting fittings for use with anexplosive gas atmosphere bulb fixed to a power source box of a verticalwall surface by the use of the attachment assisting device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical sectional view, on anenlarged scale, showing the manner in which the free end portion of thetube of the appliance engages a power source box fixed to a verticalwall surface by the use of the attachment assisting device representingthe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged perspective view of the endportion of said tube, showing a ring which is a part of the device ofthe present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings show, simply by way ofexample, some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Inthese embodiments, they are used in the attachment of heavy and bulkyelectric illuminating appliances equipped with lighting fittings forexplosive gas atmosphere.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, there isshown an electric illuminating appliance equipped with lighting fittingsl and 2 for use with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb. One such exampleof illuminating appliance is comprised of an electric bulb not shownwhich is surrounded, in a substantially air-tight fashion, by a body laand this body la is equipped externally, at its lower portion, with aprotective cover or globe 2a which is conjugated via a gasket not shownto the body la. The body la and the globe 2a are fastened tightlytogether by clamping means 3. Thus, the inside of the body la issubstantially air-tight. Reference numeral 4 represents a guard memberprovided on the external side of the globe 2a. As will be understood,the globe 2a has a substantial thickness and is stiff as is the body la,in order to protect persons and/or structures standing or provided nearthe electric illuminating appliances from being injured or damaged frompossible explosion of the electric bulb housed inside the body la. Inthe past, the body 1a was made of a heavy casting. Recently, however, itis made with a less heavy material such as a stainless steel.Consequently, in case a mercury arc lamp of 400W is to be lighted insidethe body 1a, this lamp would weigh 12 l3 kgs, whereas the body la couldweigh 16 l7 kgs if constructed of a heavy casting. Furthermore, thelighting up of such a mercury arc lamp required a stabilizer. Thisstabilizer usually weighed 8 l2 kgs. Thus, the electric illuminatingappliance equipped with lighting fittings for an explosive gasatmosphere bulb and using a stabilizer would weigh as much as 20 25 kgsif the body la is made with a stainless steel and would have a furtheradditional weight of 4 5 kgs if the body is of a casting. However, noconsideration has been heretofore given as to the simplification andfacilitation of the operation of attaching or fixing such a heavy and/orbulky article to a vertical wall or a horizontal ceiling. For example, aheavy electric illuminating appliance equipped with a lighting fittingfor use with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb was, in the past, at-

tached to a power source box of a wall or a ceiling in much the samemanner as ordinary light-weighing electric appliances were attached,i.e., by first connecting the cable or cord provided in the power sourcebox to the cable provided in the body, and then by fixing to the box theflange which was mounted on one end portion of the body. Thus, theattaching or fixing of such a heavy and bulky article to a wall or aceiling could not be performed by a single person in many cases, and itrequired the help of one or more additional laborers.

The description will hereunder be directed to the device of the presentinvention by referring to the drawmgs.

The attachment assisting device of the first embodiment of the presentinvention is used in the attachment, to a horizontal ceiling, of a heavyand bulky electric illuminating appliance equipped with lightingfittings 1 and 2 as stated above. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5represents a straight tubular member carrying the said illuminatingappliance at one end and having two holes 11 and 11 formeddiametrically'through the other end, and having an electric cable 6running through this tubular member 5 for connecting the electric bulb(not shown) which is housed within the body la to a power source. Aflange 7 is mounted on the tubular member 5 for sliding on the externalcircumference of this straight tubular member 5. A suspension ring 8which is a part of the device is passed through the two holes 11 and 11of the tubular member 5 in the manner as shown in FIG. 3. As best seenin FIG. 2, a power source box 9 is fixed to the horizontal ceiling. Ahook 10 which constitutes the remainder of the attachment assistingdevice of the present invention extends downwardly from the base of thebox 9 inside thereof. The suspension ring 8 may be made from a coil ofsteel wire or with any other appropriate flexible and strong material.Numeral 12 represents a fastening means such as a bolt and a nut forfixing the flange 7 to the box 9 via a gasket 16. Numeral 13 representsa screw for fixing the flange 7, at a desired portion of thecircumference of the tube 5, via the cylindrical slidable portion 7a ofthe flange.

The heavy and bulky illuminating appliance is connected to the powersource box 9 in a simplified and easy manmer by a single operator asfollows. First, the screw 13 of the flange 7 is loosened to lower, viathe cylindrical portion 7a, the flange 7 which is mounted on the tubularmember 5. Then, the suspension ring 8 of the tubular member 5 is hungfrom the book 10 so that this tubular member 5 carrying the entireilluminating appliance at its lower end is suspended by these twomembers 8 and 10 from the hook 10. It should be understood that, duringthe operation of suspending the tubular member 5 from the box 9 byhaving the suspension ring 8 engaged by the hook 10, frictionalresistance is produced between the ring 8 and the holes 11, 11 andtherefore the ring 8 will be held stationary at the desired positionwithout causing any rotation thereof, as it depends downwardly from thehook 10. The terminals of the cable or cord 6 are then connected to thecorresponding terminals of the cable or cord not shown of the powersource box 9. Finally, the flange 7 is applied to the appropriatepositionof the lower face of the box 9 and is connected thereto by thefastening means 12. In this manner the heavy and bulky illuminatingappliance equipped with lighting fittings l and 2 is attached.

According to the first embodiment, a suspension ring is provided at oneend portion of a tube carrying, at its other end, a heavy and bulkyelectric illuminating appliance, and a supporting hook is affixed to theinside of a power source box so that first said ring is engaged by thehook and then the flange which is slidably mounted on the tube isfastened to the power source box. Thus, the operator can connect thecable of the electric bulb to the power source box and then the flangecan be attached, after the illuminating appliance is suspended from thebox. Accordingly, the entire attachment operation can be accomplished bya single operator. Furthermore the weight of the appliance is supportedby the hook in this instance. Therefore, the flange as well as thefastening means such as bolts and nuts provided on the flange are freeof the load of the appliance, and thus a highly safe attachment isobtained.

Next, a description of the second embodiment will be made in which aheavy and/or bulky article is fixed to a vertical wall surface. For thesake of simplicity of explanation, the heavy and bulky article which isattached to the vertical wall is the same electric illuminatingappliance equipped with lighting fittings fo use with an explosive gasatmosphere bulb as the one used in the first embodiment. Therefore, itsdetailed explanation is omitted. The only difference relating to thisappliance is found in the tube provided on top of the appliance. In thissecond embodiment, this tube 50 has a circular cross section and has abent portion 50a formed adjacent to its main portion so that theilluminating appliance depends vertically downwardly from end of saidbent portion of the tube. As in the first embodiment, a flange isslidably mounted on the tube 50. An electric cord 60 is passed throughthis tube 50 in the same manner as described above. This cord 60,however, :is led outside this tube 50 from an opening 70 formed throughthe wall of this tube at a position close to the free end thereof. Asuspension ring which may be made from a coil of steel wire is passedthrough two holes 130 and 130 formed diametrically through the tube 50near the free end of the latter. A power source box which is fixed to avertical wall therealong is provided additionally at its center with aprojection 1 10 which extends at right angle relative to the base of thebox. In FIG. 5, this projection is seen to extend horizontally. Thisprojection is of an appropriate shape and diameter to be snugly receivedby the open end of the tube 50. A hook extends from the base of the box100 at a site near the projection l 10. Numeral represents a fasteningmeans such as a bolt and a nut for connecting the flange 80 to the powersource box 100. Numeral represents a screw for attaching the slidableannular cylindric portion 80a of the flange 80 onto the desired site ofthe external circumference of the tube 50.

When it is intended to attach or fix the illuminating appliance to thepower source box 100, the operator is required first to loosen the screw150 of the flange 80 to shift the position of the flange 80 away fromthe open end of the tube 50, and then to mount the open end of the tube50 onto the projection 110 in the manner shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter,the suspension ring 90 is brought into engagement with the hook 120.Then, the terminals of the electric cord 60 drawn out from the opening70 of the tube 50 are connected to the electric source terminals of thebox 100. Finally, the flange 80 is applied to the box 100 and isfastened thereto by the fastening means 140 and 140. With this, theheavy and bulky electric illuminating appliance is completely connectedto the box 100.

In this way, a heavy and/or bulky article can be attached securely to avertical wall easily by a single person. Moreover, the engagementbetween the tubular member and the power source box projection extendingfrom the vertical wall, and also the engagement between the suspensionring and the hook prevent casual detachment of the tubular member fromthe box after the attachment of the illuminating appliance. Furthermore,the flange is free of any load of the appliance. Thus, a highly safeattachment is obtained.

Though not shown, the supporting member and the engaging member of theattachment assisting device of the present invention need not be asuspension ring and a hook. They may also be, for example, threaded endportions of a male and female pair of tubular members. Various othermodifications of these two members may be conceived by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Also, the projection formed in the box may be annular having an innerdiameter to receive the open end of the tube, or it may have a threadedend portion to be threadably received in or threadably receive thethreaded open end portion of tube.

The open end portion of the tube need not have a circular cross sectionof its open end portion, and may have sides. In such a case, the holesfor the suspension ring may be formed through two of the sides, and theprojections should have a cross sectional shape complimentary to thecross sectional shape of the tube.

I claim:

1. A device for assisting the attachment of a heavy and/or bulky articlesecurely to a horizontal or vertical surface, comprising:

a power source box having a base portion adapted to be connected to thehorizontal or vertical surface and a top portion, said power source boxhaving a hollow central portion and said top portion having an aperture;

a supporting member consisting of a hook located within said powersource box, said supporting memberbeing attached to said base portion ofsaid power source box at a position opposite the aperture in said topportion;

a hollow shaft member extending in a straight line, one end beingconnected to said article and the other end being inserted within saidpower source box and supported by supporting member;

"engaging means consisting of a ring on one end of said shaft forengaging said supporting member; and

a flange member, said flange member having apertures at opposite endsthereof and slidably engaging said power source box at the other endthereof.

2. A device for assisting the attachment of a heavy and/or bulky articlesecurely to a horizontal or vertical surface, comprising:

a power source box having a base portion adapted to be connected to thehorizontal or vertical surface and a top portion, said power source boxhaving a hollow central portion and said top portion having an aperture;

a supporting member consisting of a hook located within said powersource box, said supporting member being attached to said base portionof said power source box at a position opposite the aperture in said topportion;

a hollow shaft member having a bend therein, one end being connected tosaid article and the other end being inserted within said power sourcebox and supported by said supporting member;

engaging means consisting of a ring on one end of said shaft forengaging said supporting member; and

a flange member, said flange member having apertures at opposite endsthereof and slidably engaging said shaft member at one end anddetachably engaging said power source box at the other end thereof.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the open end portion of thebent tubular member engages a projection extending from the verticalsurface at a site near the hook.

1. A device for assisting the attachment of a heavy and/or bulky articlesecurely to a horizontal or vertical surface, comprising: a power sourcebox having a base portion adapted to be connected to the horizontal orvertical surface and a top portion, said power source box having ahollow central portion and said top portion having an aperture; asupporting member consisting of a hook located within said power sourcebox, said supporting member being attached to said base portion of saidpower source box at a position opposite the aperture in said topportion; a hollow shaft member extending in a straight line, one endbeing connected to said article and the other end being inserted withinsaid power source box and supported by supporting member; engaging meansconsisting of a ring on one end of said shaft for engaging saidsupporting member; and a flange member, said flange member havingapertures at opposite ends thereof and slidably engaging said powersource box at the other end thereof.
 2. A device for assisting theattachment of a heavy and/or bulky article securely to a horizontal orvertical surface, comprising: a power source box having a base portionadapted to be connected to the horizontal or vertical surface and a topportion, said power source box having a hollow central portion and saidtop portion having an aperture; a supporting member consisting of a hooklocated within said power source box, said supporting member beingattached to said base portion of said power source box at a positionopposite the aperture in said top portion; a hollow shaft member havinga bend therein, one end being connected to said article and the otherend being inserted within said power source box and supported by saidsupporting member; engaging means consisting of a ring on one end ofsaid shaft for engaging said supporting member; and a flange member,said flange member having apertures at opposite ends thereof andslidably engaging said shaft member at one end and detachably engagingsaid power source box at the other end thereof.
 3. A device according toclaim 2, in which the open end portion of the bent tubular memberengages a projection extending from the vertical surface at a site nearthe hook.